Archive for June, 2010

I didn’t spend too much time at Solstice this year. Erik was watching the soccer game so I went down there solo. Solstice is not a good place to go solo. Everyone is happy and in big groups. Lots of families with kids drawing in chalk on the street. I ditched by bike behind Sotheby’s and walked from Micheltorena down to Cota, battling crowds the whole way. The best part was getting blasted by some confetti throwers on the way back. Felt like Fiesta. And now the days get shorter…

Saturday I spent a little time volunteering at the Vicki’s 3000 to benefit Special Olympics. My good friend Liz is the RD for this race, having gracefully taken it over from me after I had to move out of town in 2006.

Here are a few photos.

This girl and her mom made me smile, as my mom got my into running a long time ago. Though we never ran a race together, I think of her guidance as an amazing gift.

Al looks so happy to be almost done. It's cool to see runners of all ages out on the track.

The race director and another helpful assistant, past Rotaract president David Vo. Thanks David and Liz!

Kevin Young and Jake, 9-year-old winner of the first heat, discuss race strategy.

The final and fastest heat of the day.

Drea, on the right, will be running Grandma's Marathon next weekend in an effort to qualify for the US Olympic Trials. Best of luck to her.

After the Edhat dog ditched me for fame and glory at the State Street mile, I put the experience in her words:

It’s not easy being the Edhat dog.

There’s the fame that comes with being on all those splash pages, the pressure of picking the winners of important Edhat contests like March Edness. And of course, the constant training I have to do to be in shape for the annual State Street Dog Mile.

It’s possible that this year I over trained for the State Street Mile. And certainly, though my carbo-loading the night before was perfect, my head wasn’t in the right place before the race. Instead of staying calm and collected, I barked and pranced. I was anxious to avenge my leash-losing performance from 2009. Even though I came in first last year, my handler was left far behind.

I was determined to do better this year. I had a fast and understanding runner by my side. I had no excuse. I may have gotten a little over psyched. There were so many other fit canine competitors at the start line! I was nervous, even after all that walking around the block to calm me down.

So when the bell rang for the start of my event, I took the clearest path out to State Street. Unfortunately, said path wound my leash around the balloon arch that gracefully decorated the start line. I was fast off the gate and as I ran for the front, the entire balloon arrangement began to descend to the pavement. As my handler balked to keep from tripping on it, away I went. As fast as I could go. I didn’t even notice she wasn’t with me ‘til a half mile down State.

I chased after the leader, my leash flapping in the breeze, running for those treats at the finish line. Far behind, my embarrassed handler felt a fool and jogged along sheepishly, a dogless human in a sea of happy running pets. I had a flash of remorse – she is a nice enough sort. But, there was no way I could be caught. As I reached the finish I saw my owners, who immediately knew – I’d made it a Dog Gone run for the second straight year.

This post originally appeared on Edhat.com with the byline “by the Edhat dog.”